Ward

Uproar over garbage is such a waste

Let’s talk about garbage, something my readers say I know a lot about! The refuse we’ll be discussing is the stuff that political dreams are made of. It’s municipal government’s very reason for being. It’s at the heart of the local political process. You see, …

‘Senator Bob’ Mitchler was a true gentleman

Beacon-News Viewpoint columnist recalls the time he spent with Illinois State Sen. Bob Mitchler, who died recently at the age of 91.

‘Groucho Marx’ has fun with our columnist

Beacon-News columnist Jeff Ward writes “Normally I don’t bring myself into these columns because I’m really kind of boring and putting your readers into a deep coma really isn’t good for business.” But then Frank Ferrante, the actor playing the legendary Groucho Marx at the Paramount Theater in Aurora plucks Ward out of the audience and the fun begins.

McDonald’s doesn’t get a break from Batavia

Beacon-News Viewpoint columnist Jeff Ward writes “Some Batavia residents and public officials have been going around in concentric circles over the look of their soon-to-be-rebuilt downtown McDonald’s.”

Marine’s quiet dedication should be honored

Why is it we never pay attention to the quiet ones until the silence becomes deafening? I don’t know. Maybe it’s all part of the current cultural phenomenon where we believe the ones who shout the loudest and act the most outrageous win.

Subdivision guards shouldn’t be armed

The arming of subdivision security guards has happened here in the western suburbs, but the shooting of Trayvon Martin illustrates the perils of giving people who aren’t trained as police officers both police powers and firearms.

Common sense in the schools gets a boost

Really, St. Charles. District 303 makes a magnificently rational move and yet you insist upon getting your knickers in a twist. Sometimes I think the students are more mature than their parents. A year ago we discussed the immense insanity involved in St. Charles East …

Kane political humor thoroughly bipartisan

Though Kane County Republicans are firmly in the majority, and hence get most of the attention, there is humor to be mined from Kane Democrats as well and Beacon-News Viewpoint columnist Jeff Ward is busily excavating from that mine.

Pro football bounties hard on a soccer dad

“I used to enjoy working up a sweat in those Tri-Cities over 40 sports leagues. Though the year-round nature of coaching travel soccer has made it more difficult, the real reason for that past tense is my fear of ending up in the Provena Mercy Hospital emergency room.”